The Art of Giving, Chapter 30
CHAP. XXX.
How to abstaine from these delights.
1 COnsider wee that at the best they are subiect to much abuse: And therefore choose we rather such recreation as may turne good to the soule, may prouoke to see our vilenesse, and humble to repentance.
If we will needs try conclusions in these sports,
2 Then resolue we to play freely, and so we shall shortly play alone: secondly, if we play for ought, let vsus then vse our selues to giuegive a way whatsoeuer we win, and to pay of our owne what we loose, and this will also quickly end vsus of our company, and ease vsus of our labour.
3 Insteed of these, we choose such as are of honest report, as shooting, &c. Secondly such as are not so subiect to sleights and aduantages to deceiue: such as may further the health of the body, as exercises of running, wrestling, &c.
Such as may fit vsus the better to the seruice of our country, as handling the Pike, feates of actiuity, and such as are performed laudably in the Artillery garden; shooting with the Peece.
And such as in generall may further to spirituall duties of Prayer, thankesgiuing, may prouoke to contemplate the power and wisedome of God, in the variety of his worke, and such as may serue to humble the flesh, and may enable vsus the better to this grace of liberality, as tillage of the earth, grafting, and may imitate euen childish simplicity.
But especially labour we to weane our soules from these delights.
And therefore,
That our hearts may be weaned by degrees from these perillous vanities.
1 Let vsus consider, not so much how we may passe away the time present, as how we hauehave mispent the time past, and therefore hauehave deserued that time should be no more, and this wil euen worke this conclusion, that it is sufficient that wee hauehave spent time past after the manner of the Gentiles, that it is the mercies of the Lord, that wee hauehave not beene ouer taken in our foiles, that it now stands vsus vponupon to walke more circumspectly, redeeming the time, because the daies are euill.
2 Consider wee what fruit wee hauehave in those things whereof wee are now ashamed, at the best, no better then vanity and vexation of spirit.
3 Obserue wee the reason and common ground of these sports, namely, to ease a troubled minde: and iudge wee wisely what vnfit and desperate Physicke this proues thereto; seruing at the best to dead the conscience, to exclude Repentance, to encrease sinne: and so to hasten to vengeance.
4 Consider wee that the practise of these sports tends not onelyonly to the prophaning of the Sabbath, but to iustifie this prophannesse, vnderunder pretence of Christian liberty, and recreation.
5 And so consider wee wisely the companions of these games, as whoring, drunkennesse, murther, cousenage, and swearing.
6 Resolue we daily to reckon with our selues for the expence of time, and then we shall be ill apaid to bring any such stuffe into reckoning.
7 We shall hauehave enough to doe to account for ordinary escapes, and sins that hangs so fast vponupon vsus, so that wee shall hauehave little need, to draw on sinne with cart-ropes, to make a sport of it.
And therefore in all these recreations labour we to become fooles, not affecting any extraordinary skill in them, neyther seeking for masteries by them, vnlesse they be such as may make vsus seruiceable to the common good, obseruing daily the vanity of them, or at least their insufficiency to giuegive content to the pure minde: and considering the shortnesse of our liues, and suddennesse of Christs comming to iudgement, imagine we whether these will proue Oyle in our Lampes, to meete the Bridegroome withall, or not rather stubble to helpe to kindle the fire of Gods iealousie, to burne vsus vnquenchably?
And learne we to make God our delight, by walking alwayes in his presence. Reioycing in his word.
Meditating of his admirable power and wisedome in all his workes, especially refreshing our soules in the beauty of his face in Iesus Christ. And reioycing in the hope of that louelove that shall be reuealed.
Delighting in the excellent that ar… earth. Psal. 16. and labouring to ma…tayne the fellowship by walking as lights amidst the darknesse of this world, sauing some by feare, plucking out of the fire. Iud. 22.
Exhorting each other daily, that wee be not hardned by the deceitfulnesse of sinne. Hebr. 3. 13.
And waiting for the glorious reuelation of the sonnes of God.
Labouring especially to auoid the causes and occasions of these vanities.
Namely, pretence of Christian liberty as before.
2 Idlenesse. Being diligent in our callings, and committing the issue to God.
3 Security, as because wee are safe, all is well, therefore wee may be merry, wee may take our fill of pleasure.
4 Atheisme, as thinking all our happinesse consists in this life, and that this happinesse appeares in the satisfying of the flesh, and therefore let vsus eate and drinke, play and sport, for to morrow we shall die. 1 Cor. 13.
5 Lastly, consider we that these sports … the most part, as they were banished by the wiser heathen out of their common-wealths, so they are also condemned by the lawes of our land.
The parties vsing many of them, accounted no better then common rogues, as Players, Bearewards, &c. And so as Rogues to be dealt withall.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Cooper, The Art of Giving (1615)